Preview: Rapha Super Cross round 2 and Misterton Madness

Welland Valley Cycling Club is promoting a round of the ground breaking Rapha Super Cross Series at Misterton Hall, near Lutterworth on Saturday October 27, bringing a day of super-charged cyclo-cross racing to the Leicestershire venue.

Spectators can enjoy racing of all abilities; from the best in the land to absolute beginners. The winning combination of beer, pies, frites, DJs, live music and cowbells will be back to create the best atmosphere this country has ever seen at a cyclo-cross event. The infamous tequila shortcut makes a welcome return to the fun race, this year featuring a new hazard: the mysterious ‘Wall of Foam’!

Defending team champions Hope Technology are once again chasing a share of the £6,500 prize money over three rounds of the exhilarating Rapha Super Cross Series, led by former British champion Paul Oldham and backed by Leicestershire duo Dave Collins and Dan Booth.

Hargroves-Specialized, third in 2011, field a stronger line-up with another former British champion at the helm, Jody Crawforth.

Endura Racing will be snapping at their heels, though, with Ian Wilkinson, Rob Partridge, Johnny McEvoy and Ian Bibby (yet another former champ) joined by guest rider Jake Womersley.

Other top names to look out for include reigning British junior champion Hugo Robinson, riding for Rapha/GB Development, who has started this season very strongly, and the dark horses, ROTWILD-Forme Coaching, with former Cervélo pro Dan Fleeman as captain.

With teams from Charge, Dirtwheels and Cycle Premier-Kovert, featuring Fleckney’s Matt Barratt, also on the grid at Misterton, the Elite race promises to be the best field seen in the UK this season.

Organiser Dean Barnett has designed a very spectator friendly course with many vantage points around the 1.5km circuit. Entry for spectators is FREE, there’s live music from Rapha’s very own race DJ and you can also enjoy a whole load of other facilities.

The action kicks off with racing for Under 10’s and 12 years old at 10.15am, the eagerly anticipated Elite race starts at 1.00pm.

The following day the venue will host round 6 of the Waldrons West Midlands Cyclo-cross League. Over 500 competitors will contest races for all ages and abilities and gender on a extended course to cope with the volume of competitors.